Chapter Better to Reign in Hell than Serve in Heaven to Bible in Spain of B by Brewer's Readers Handbook

Better to Reign in Hell than Serve in Heaven to Bible in Spain

Better to Reign in Hell than Serve in Heaven.—Milton: Paradise Lost, i. 263 (1665).

Julius Cæsar used to say he would rather be the first man in a country village than the second at Rome. (See Cæsar, p. 165.)

Betty Doxy. Captain Macheath says to her, “Do you drink as hard as ever? You had better stick to good wholesome beer; for, in troth, Betty, strong waters will in time ruin your constitution. You should leave those to your betters.”—Gay: The Beggar’s Opera, ii. 1 (1727).

Betty Foy, “the idiot mother of an idiot boy.”—Wordsworth (1770–1850).

Betty [Hint], servant in the family of sir Pertinax and lady McSycophant. She is a sly, prying tale-bearer, who hates Constantia (the beloved of Egerton McSycophant), simply because every one else loves her.—Macklin: The Man of the World (a comedy, 1764).

Betubium, Dumsby or the Cape of St. Andrew, in Scotland.

The north-inflated tempest foams
O’er Orka’s or Betubium’s highest peak.
   —Thomson: The Seasons (“Autumn,” 1730).

Betula Alba, common birch. The Roman lictors made fasces of its branches, and also employed it for scourging children, etc. (Latin, batulo, “to beat.”)

The college porter brought in a huge quantity of that betulineous tree, a native of Britain, called Betula alba, which furnished rods for the school.—Lord W. R. Lennox: Celebrities, etc., i. 43.

Beulah, that land of rest which a Christian enjoys when his faith is so strong that he no longer fears or doubts. Sunday is sometimes so called. In Bunyan’s allegory (The Pilgrim’s Progress) the pilgrims tarry in the land of Beulah after their pilgrimage is over, till they are summoned to cross the stream of Death and enter into the Celestial City.

After this, I beheld until they came unto the land of Beulah, where the sun shineth night and day. Here, because they were weary, they betook themselves a while to rest; but a little while soon refreshed them here, for the bells did so ring, and the trumpets sounded so melodiously that they could not sleep. … In this land they heard nothing, saw nothing, smelt nothing, tasted nothing that was offensive.—Bunyan: The Pilgrim’s Progress, i. (1678).

Beuves or Buovo of Aygremont, father of Malagigi, and uncle of Rinaldo. Treacherously slain by Gano.—Ariosto: Orlando Furioso (1516).

Beuves de Hantone, the French form for Bevis of Southampton (q.v.).

Bevan (Mr.), an American physician, who befriends Martin Chuzzlewit and Mark Tapley in many ways during their stay in the New World.—Dickens: Martin Chuzzlewit (1844).

Beverley, “the gamester,” naturally a good man, but led astray by Stukely, till at last he loses everything by gambling, and dies a miserable death.

Mrs. Beverley, the gamester’s wife. She loves her husband fondly, and clings to him in all his troubles.

Charlotte Beverley, in love with Lewson, but Stukely wishes to marry her. She loses all her fortune through her brother “the gamester,” but Lewson notwithstanding marries her.—Edw. Moore: The Gamester (1753).

Mr. Young was acting “Beverley” with Mrs. Siddons. … In the 4th act “Beverley” swallows poison; and when “Bates” comes in and says to the dying man, “Jarvis found you quarrelling with Lawson in the streets last night,” “Mrs. Beverley” replies, “No, I am sure he did not.” To this “Jarvis” adds, “And if I